This product is the fruit of the annual herbaceous plant Xanthium sibiricum (Xanthium sibiricum Patr.) from the Asteraceae family. It is distributed nationwide and can be found growing wild in various regions. It is harvested in autumn and dried in the sun. The hard spines are removed by stir-frying before use.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Acrid and bitter, warm, slightly toxic, act on lung channel.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Dispelling wind and dampness, relieving stuffy orifices, and alleviating pain.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for sinusitis headache, wind-cold headache. This product is mild and dispersing, pungent in taste to dispel wind, bitter to dry dampness and turbidity, relieving stuffy orifices and stopping pain. It is used to treat sinusitis headache, inability to smell, and occasional turbid nasal discharge. It is often combined with medicinals Magnolia, Dahurian Angelica, Mentha, namely Cocklebur Fruit Powder. For treating external contraction of wind-cold, aversion to cold without sweating, headache, and nasal congestion, it can be used with Saposhnikovia Root, Dahurian Angelica, Notopterygium, Chinese Lovage, etc.
2. Used for wind-dampness arthralgia. This product dispels wind and removes dampness, dredges collaterals and relieves pain. It is used to treat wind-dampness Bi disease, and limb spasms. It can be used alone or with Gentian, Silkworm Feces, and other herbs, soaked in wine for consumption, such as Shiguo Gong medicinal wine.
3. In addition, this product is used with belvedere fruit, densefruit pittany root-bark, Puncturevine Caltrop Fruit, etc., to treat rubella cutaneous pruritus. Also, this product is ground into powder and made into pills with chaulmoogra tree seed oil to treat scabies and leprosy, all utilizing its wind-dispelling and dampness-removing effects.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Mainly treats wind-cold headache, wind-dampness Zhoubi, spasmodic pain in the limbs, and malignant flesh or dead tissue."
2. 《Essential Medicinal Formulations》: "Indispensable for treating sinusitis and nasal issues, it facilitates the rising of clear yang qi to the vertex."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 3-10g. Or use in pills or powders.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains xanthostrumarin, fatty oils, alkaloids, xanthostrumarin alcohol, proteins, vitamin C, etc. The glycosides have a significant hypoglycemic effect; the decoction has a cough suppressant effect; it inhibits the heart, slowing the heart rate and weakening the contraction force; it has a certain inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus type B, and Diplococcus pneumoniae, and also has antifungal properties. This product is somewhat toxic, and an adult dosage exceeding 100g can lead to poisoning, with main symptoms including dizziness, somnolence, unconsciousness, generalized tonic convulsions, and the appearance of jaundice, hepatomegaly, liver dysfunction, and the presence of protein, red blood cells, and casts in the urine. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory, circulatory, and renal failure, resulting in death.

bubble_chart Supplementary Medicinals

Siberian Cocklebur Herb: Refers to the stems and leaves of Xanthium sibiricum. It has a bitter and pungent taste, slightly cold in nature, and is mildly toxic. Its functions include dispelling wind, clearing heat, and removing toxins. It is primarily used to treat wind-dampness arthralgia, spasms of the limbs, and other symptoms. It can be prepared as a soup, such as Xanthium leaf soup. It is also used for leprosy, boils and sores, and cutaneous pruritus. This herb is toxic and should not be taken in excess or for prolonged periods. The dosage is 6-15g, decocted with water or made into a paste, pills, or powder. For external use, apply an appropriate amount. This herb disperses qi and consumes blood, so it is not suitable for those with deficiency.